I wanted to share this interview with a Spanish author whose work I’ve translated into English and reviewed, and whom I had the pleasure to meet in person at Literania, recently. A fabulous writer and human being. I hope I’ll work with him again in the future.
Hello – I’m Laura Martín. Do you remember “The Advantages and Disadvantages of Being an Indie Author”? That’s me. Now, […]
Source: Interview with International Bestselling Author Enrique Laso – BabelsΒοοκ
Hola a todos.
Es viernes y tocan novedades literaria. Lo cierto es que hay tantas que se me pasan muchas, pero de vez en cuando hay libros que me llaman la atención y tomo nota para compartirlos luego. A veces ese luego tarda tanto en llegar que ya no son novedades, pero aprovechando hoy que me fijé en dos libros publicados por autores que han visitado el blog antes (y que por su obra, estoy segura de que seguirán viniendo), aquí os los traigo. Para que no digáis que no hay variedad y que no tenéis nada que leer.
Primero, una de zombies.
ESTALLIDO Z. Mundo Zombie N.1 de Jonás Cobos
“JONAS COBOS REGRESA AL GÉNERO CON EL QUE SE DIO A CONOCER Y NOS OFRECE UNA NUEVA VUELTA DE TUERCA AL TERROR ZOMBIE”
Ricardo Rey, una vez fue el autor de novelas de terror más aclamado, ahora es el último ser humano vivo. Con su bicicleta recorre las calles de Manhattan en busca de otros supervivientes de la Plaga Zy de las Guerras Vampíricas que la precedieron. A diario escribe en un blog con la esperanza de que alguien más llegue a leerlo. Inesperadamente descubre que su blog ha recibido una visita desde un hotel cerca de Central Park. Tan sólo hay un obstáculo: la manada de zombies que caza en esa zona.
“SI THE WALKING DEAD TE ABURRE Y SUS ZOMBIES TE PARECEN INOFENSIVOS ESTA ES TU NOVELA”
AUTOR DE “SUSURROS EN LA OSCURIDAD”
BESTSELLER EN TERROR EN AMAZON ESPAÑA 2012
La podéis encontrar aquí:
Y no os olvidéis de visitar la página del escritor y seguirle, para no perderos nada.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jonas-Cobos/e/B009BTWC9I/
Y, si os pasa como a mí, que tenéis poco tiempo y a veces os gusta leer algo corto (ahora mismo me estoy leyendo una novela larguísima), aquí os dejo una colección de historias cortas:
El final de algo de Manuel Navarro Serra
Diez cuentos en torno al amor, el sexo, la amistad, la muerte, la soledad…, facetas de nuestra vida en la que siempre hay algo que empieza y algo que termina.
Relatos en los que el lector encontrará acciones, conductas y sentimientos de los personajes con los que podrá identificarse o distanciarse.
Un anciano dentista que recuerda a un amigo de la infancia, un hombre que busca el amor y cree haberlo encontrado en una mujer a la que observa a diario, un matrimonio que pierde a un hijo de diecinueve años, una mujer casada que mantiene una relación extramatrimonial, un individuo que se gira a mirar a cualquier mujer que se cruza en su camino, un joven que se enamora por primera vez, una pareja que ha dejado de amarse, un conductor de autobús que gana una fortuna en el casino son algunos de los personajes de estos diez relatos.
http://www.amazon.com/FINAL-ALGO-Spanish-Manuel-Navarro-ebook/dp/B010QS3X0O/
http://www.amazon.es/FINAL-ALGO-Spanish-Manuel-Navarro-ebook/dp/B010QS3X0O/
Y el enlace a la página de autor de Manuel Navarro Seva. Hay obras de los más variadas, así que no os la perdáis.
http://www.amazon.com/Manuel-Navarro-Seva/e/B009TOQJHG/
Muchas gracias a Jonás Cobos y a Manuel Navarro Seva por traernos sus novedades, gracias a vosotros por leer, y si os ha interesado, dadle al me gusta, comentad, compartid y haced CLIC!
Hello everybody:
Those who know me already know that I’ve been publishing my books and posts in this blog for over two years (I’ve been writing for much longer), in Spanish and English. I’ve lived, studied (Psychiatry, a BA and a PhD in American Literature and a Masters in Criminology) and worked in the UK for many years now and the truth is that I didn’t give it much thought and it seemed the normal thing to do to publish in both languages, although it meant spending more time working before I could publish my books (as I always try and publish both versions at the same time).
Despite the time involved, translating a text helps me to read it and to become submerged in it totally, that results in an in depth editing of the original. Reading it slowly one notices details that might escape even repeat fast lectures.
A few months ago I started translating other people’s book, and the same is true for those. I spend a lot of time with the book, living with it, and if I notice some typo or misplaced detail in the original I let the author know. The process is more complicated than with my own books, as the correct interpretation of the texts requires working closely with the author to clarify any details that could be confusing.
After a few months doing it and enjoying it (although it is a job that requires dedication and many hours) I’ve decided to adjust my prices ($40 per 1000 words of text) in the same conditions as before. I’m happy to offer a short sample translation for free (a page or a page and a half), or a longer one (a whole chapter or a number of pages) for the price as stated, that would be deducted from the final price if the project goes ahead. Most of the authors I’ve worked with so far have preferred to pay by instalments and that’s not a problem (although of course before I sent the final manuscript I require the payment in full), and the translation also includes the description/synopsis of the book, the blurb (including a brief biography if that is used for the paper version), and a few promo Tweets (if the author so wishes), a press release or a post for a blog also translated at no extra cost. (As I usually publish reviews in my blog and in others, I will also publish a review of the finished book, although as I’ll appear as translator, I could not post it to any of the shops officially, at least not for the translated version).
More recently several authors I know have asked me to check and proofread some translations of their works, to ensure there were no typos or anything missing. That is also fascinating work (as it allows me to learn from the work of other translators) and as it takes me far less time I’m currently charging approximately $100 per 100 pages.
Apart from translations of books and the corrections and proofreading already mentioned, I also offer shorter translations (blog posts, press releases, biographies for the author page in Amazon or other sites, Tweets, synopsis and descriptions, letters to publishing companies and authors, interviews…) for very reasonable rates, depending on length. Ask me and we’ll talk about it.
If you want more details about my works, here I leave you my web page.
And the cover of Virgin of the Sun by Jordi Díez, that I love and really enjoyed translating (and I learned a lot about the Incas!). The next novel I’ve translated for another author is nearly ready…but for the moment we’re keeping it quiet.
Thanks to all of you for reading, and if you’ve found it interesting, you know, like, comment, share and CLICK! And if you’d like to chat about a translation, leave me a note and I’ll be in touch. Of course, previous clients always have a special price.
Note: Ah, several authors have asked me about the possibility of doing translations for a percentage of the royalties of the book. I’ve thought about it although currently due to time constraints I wouldn’t be able to do it, but I’ll think about in the future, and might participate in a special project every so often. If I do it, I’ll advertise it and see if there’s any interest. I’m also happy to consider exchanging a translation for other services.
And I could not help but share the image David Cronin (husband of a great friend and fabulous blogger, Sally, visit here) created for me. He’s also doing a great series on how to create an e-book in Sally’s blog, so don’t miss.
If you loved Lost in Translation, you should read this!
I am Spanish and write in Spanish and English, although because I live and work in the UK I do most of my writing in English now. When I read about the subject matter of the book I knew I should read it and I’m happy I did.
You have an English author, Mike Grey, who’s become stuck in a rut writing misogynistic detective novels, that at face value appear not to be worth the paper (yes, paperbacks, not digital) they’re written in. He’s threatened with discontinuation of the series by the publishers but cannot get motivated to change. Then suddenly, luck strikes. A Spanish publishing company decides to translate his books and they become a great success. He’s invited to a book signing in Madrid and meets a fascinating, puzzling, annoying and lovely woman, Maria, whom he initially thinks is only interpreting for him and later realises is the person who has translated his now successful book to Spanish. Maria is an unpublished writer, talented, and frustrated. She decides to do the translation as a chance to try and get attention for her own writing. She’s so appalled at the poor quality of Mike’s novel that she starts making ‘improvements’, amongst them, turning Mike’s detective protagonist, Eric, into Erica.
Maria has to try and avoid both the readers and Mike discovering her ruse, and she manages quite well. Although she despises Mike’s writing she discovers he’s not that bad and eventually things develop…Yes, in the direction you imagine. But as you know the course of true love never runs smooth and misunderstandings and confusion abound. Other people come in the way, translations and miscommunications get even more complicated, trips to and fro abound, and author’s egos are bruised but eventually healed.
Mr Wheeler has written a solid comedy of errors, with good and likeable (flawed but more human for it) main characters, some fabulous secondary characters (I love Maria’s father, her aunt, and the barber/Spanish teacher), and scenes that will make you cringe and laugh in equal measures. The writing is fresh, well paced, adapted to the different characters and surroundings, and it shows a deep understanding (and dare I say love?) for the cities and subjects it touches. We laugh at the world of publishing and writing from the inside, but we also wonder and marvel at is power and magic. You’ll be sorry once it finishes as you’ll feel Mike and Mary have become your friends, but don’t worry, there are plenty of epilogues to keep you going!
I recommend this novel to anybody with a sense of humour, particularly if you love books, and if you’ve ever tried to translate something, this should be compulsory reading! I look forward to reading more of Mr Wheeler’s books.
If you’ve liked what you’ve read, check it out. Please share and CLICK!
Is translating an art? I would say it depends on what you’re translating, but it can be. Is it curious? I find it so.
I’m from Barcelona and speak (and write) Spanish and Catalan (Catalan although I’ve always spoken it was not officially taught when I was very young due to…politics and the government of General Franco. That’s not terribly relevant to the post, but I’m gifted, or plagued, with lateral thinking processes). I studied French at school for a few years and then English at High School. I moved to the UK in 1992 and since I’ve spent most of my life speaking, reading and writing in English (although of course Spanish and Catalan are also there). Even my fiction, that I started writing in one form or another when I was very young, moved from strictly Spanish (less often Catalan) to English.
Now as you know I’ve taken up self-publishing some of my stories, and as part of the process I’m doing some translating. Sometimes in either direction, mostly from English to Spanish. I decided to have guest authors in my blog and as I had been posting in both Spanish and English, I’d also translated the guest posts from either Spanish to English or the other way round, depending on the main language of the guest.
It is a rewarding and sometimes difficult task. I’ve come to love the fact that you get to know the original material much better than you would do otherwise. You go through it with a fine toothcomb, trying to find expressions that might mean the same or something equivalent in the other language, and sometimes you need to determine what’s exactly being said.
Interviews in general I don’t find too difficult. Actual samples of a book are much more precious, as not only content but style come into play and some of the author’s decisions you might not agree with, or might not be easily (if at all) translatable into the other language. And what about the titles? I find titles particularly challenging. Sometimes I give up and leave the original, but even then, if it’s not just a name, I’ll try to provide a translation (in order to at least give some information to the reader). But how to know if that would be the other person’s choice?
I have written a Young Adult novel, the first in a (somewhat) planned series and decided I was going to translate it from English to Spanish. Well, it’s not that difficult when it’s your own book, because at least you know what you’re trying to say. Or so I thought. And of course, I started with the title. Angelic Business 1. Pink Matters. 1 is easy. Does not need translation. Angelic pretty straight forward too (Angélico or Angélicos if plural). But Business. Several meanings. Did I want business as an enterprise, the world of business, or as a matter (“none of your business”) kind of thing? Negocios Angélicos? I finally decided (so far) to go with Asuntos Angélicos.
But that was nothing compare with ‘Pink Matters’. Pink is the name of the main character (she’s named Petra but hates her name and as she likes the pink colour, she goes by Pink). Pink (the colour) in Spanish is rosa (as a colour). But Rosa is also a name (Rose). But I didn’t want Rosa, so I decided to stick with Pink. No reason why children reading this book (I’m not specific about the setting but it’s a world with High Schools and football players, so) would not know enough English to know what Pink is, and of course there’s also the singer. And ‘matters’? Matter again could be a thing to talk about…(sort of ‘related’ to Pink) but I like the possible double meaning, as in, the girl, Pink, matters, is important. She’s the centre of the novel. I could not think of any word similar in Spanish and I wanted to keep the symmetry. I didn’t fancy using several words and making it a really long title. So far I’m working with ‘Alerta Pink’ (yes, Pink Alert) that’s fairly different, but I like the interplay with red alert. (Alerta Roja in Spanish). And all this for only 4 words and a number. Can you imagine the whole process? Of course, the title is very important and I hope I won’t agonise so much over the rest of the book but…(so far I’ve only translated a chapter and a bit, but I’m currently translating a book from Spanish to English for somebody else. Challenging indeed!)
Yes, I would say it is a curious art, don’t you think?
Thanks for reading!
Check out Thomas Rydder’s interview with…me!
Just Olga 